Era of the New Majority

[KingSweden]

United States elections, 2025

New Jersey

NJ-Gov: US Rep. Paul Sarlo falls short in his bid to knock out Tom Kean, who despite falling somewhat down to earth after a long honeymoon manages to win 49-46 with several minor candidates managing to total up to 3%. It is hardly a ringing endorsement of Kean's administration, but it is better than getting bounced like Steve Fulop.

NJ-Row Offices: 47-year old Bergen County DA Tony Civino (R) is elected Attorney General, the most high profile of the newly elective offices. Democrats sweep all the other races, with George Danger (50) winning SOS, Erika Frost-Keeley (40) winning Treasurer, Adam London (42) winning Auditor, Monique Jackson-Craft (60) winning Superintendent of Public Education, and Ryann Geller (49) winning Insurance Commissioner. (All of the above are 100% fictional).

NJ Assembly: Democrats pick up two seats to go to 50-30. The Senate is not up for election. Lou Greenwald is selected for another term as Speaker.

Virginia

VA-Gov: Despite deteriorating numbers for the GOP and President Sandoval in Virginia, twelve years of Democratic governance and a terrific campaign by Attorney General Mark Obenshain against a somnambulant US Rep. Don McEachin hands the GOP the Governor's Mansion, 50-46 with a libertarian taking a share of the vote. Turnout is low throughout the Old Dominion, with much of the blame landing squarely on the abysmal McEachin campaign. R GAIN.

VA-Lt. Gov: Lieutenant Governor Bryce Reeves is reelected breezily over House Minority Leader Jenny McClellan, winning 54-42.

VA-AG: Delegate Todd Gilbert is elected Attorney General over Democratic Delegate Sam Rasoul, a Muslim, 53-45. The election had ugly attack ads over Rasoul's faith. R Hold.

VA House of Delegates: Republicans pick up one seat to go to 66-34.

[KingSweden]

United States elections, 2025

Municipal

NYC Mayor: Eric Adams defeats a left-wing challenge from Zephyr Teachout, attempting a comeback backed by the WFP. After the acrimonious primary, he easily dispatches outgoing Staten Island BP James Oddo, who ran under the hope that Adams would go down thanks to a progressive rebellion against his centrist ways. Once Adams defeats Teachout - by a bigger margin than expected - Oddo effectively suspends his campaign.

NYC Public Advocate: Jumaane Williams is reelected without opposition in either the primary or general.

New York City Comptroller: Melinda Katz reelected in a landslide.

Borough Presidents: Former Mayoral candidate and GOP star Joe Borelli is elected Staten Island Borough President. Ron Kim is elected to a second term as Queens BP. Brad Lander is elected to a second term in Brooklyn. Ritchie Torres is reelected in Bronx. In Manhattan, out of a wide-open primary, it is City Councillor Silvestre Cardozo (f) who is elected.

New York City Council: Another slate of WFP-backed candidates is elected by broad margins. Republicans still have just one member in the entire body.

Boston Mayor: Tony Petrucelli survives a primary against Boston policeman Patrick Connally (f), and has no issue in the general election.

Boston City Council: Many of the populists elected in 2021 are swept out by developer-backed candidates.

Atlanta Mayor: After Kwanza Hall is term-limited, City Councilman Roderick Bates is elected in his stead after defeating John Lewis staffer Tim Thorne.

Seattle Mayor: After an ineffective and uneven four year term, Mayor Jessyn Farrell is defeated first in the primary and then in the top-two runoff by City Councilman Rob Johnson, placing an unabashed urbanist in charge of Seattle for the first time.

Seattle City Council: As part of the Johnson wave, urbanist candidates sweep into all open offices.

Detroit Mayor: Coleman Young II is elected by a landslide in both the primary and general with no issue.

[KingSweden]

Analysis of Election Results:

Washington Post: The third straight "Mark" has been elected Governor of Virginia, and Republicans now hold all three statewide executive offices for the first time since 2013. Obenshain, a staunch conservative, was greatly helped by the abysmal campaign of US Rep. Don McEachin, who showed no ability to run outside of a majority-minority district and speak to a broader electorate. It also continues the recent trend of the incumbent White House seeing a member of its party elected to the Governorship of America's definitive swing state. After a tough year, seeing Republicans pick up Virginia and narrowly hold New Jersey must have been a tremendous boost for the embattled President Brian Sandoval.

NJ.com: It was hardly the ringing endorsement Tom Kean sought after four years at the helm, but in the end he defeated centrist Democrat Paul Sarlo in a narrow election. While Republicans only picked up one of the elective row offices and lost further ground in the Assembly, Kean can take his reelection as a mandate to continue reforming the state and its finances.

New York Times: It was a tremendous victory lap for Mayor Adams, who beat back a left-wing challenge to continue his stable, go-it-easy management of the nation's biggest city. The activists who increasingly run the NYC Democratic Party will just have to wait for another crack at the nation's most important mayoralty.

[KingSweden]

November 2025: Just days after their surprisingly cruddy election results - with Virginia slipping back to Republicans, Kean hanging on in New Jersey, and "New Left" style candidates failing in most Mayoral elections - Democrats get another pair of blows as Erin Murphy is referred to the full Senate by the Judiciary Committee and then is approved 52-48 after weeks of rumors that she would be defeated, with three Democrats (Ryan, Kaine and Bennet) crossing party lines to support her after GOP votes vanish. It is one of the narrowest votes for a Supreme Court justice in history, and an oddly narrow one for such an uncontroversial nominee who would be significantly to the left of Samuel Alito. The day after Murphy passes, Nancy Pelosi dies at the age of 85. Xavier Becerra, Barack Obama, Martin Heinrich and John Boehner speak at her funeral. Kevin McCarthy's absence earns him rebukes in left-leaning press. As Democrats continue to flag, Sandoval's drilling-expansion plan passes both Houses of Congress and the press starts to talk about the President recapturing his mojo.

November 2025 (continued): The Pakistani Army puts down a coup attempt in Islamabad by a group of rogue generals and expands its campaign in the north against resurgent insurgents (hehe). Russia launches an attack into the Central Asian Republic, bombing Kazan and other soft targets and seriously straining relations with Kazakhstan. Bob Corker heads to Almaty to start negotiating a transfer of Kazakhstan's new nuclear arsenal into NATO hands under UN observation. The refugee crisis accelerates in Eastern Europe, with tensions rising in countries like Hungary, Slovakia and Poland as they are overwhelmed by Russian and Belarusian civilians. President Park of Korea, in an off-the-cuff remark, announces a halving of American troops in the country by the end of 2026 without consulting Sandoval, who dispatches Corker to negotiate. In the UK, meanwhile, Sajid Javid's Tories lose the polling lead they have enjoyed since his accession to Jim McMahon's Labour, the first time Labour has led polls in four years.

[KingSweden]

December 2025: John Thune announces a compromise of TEORA has been found, and so President Sandoval's flagship domestic policy is rescued after being left for dead at the end of October. It only narrowly passes the House with 221 Aye votes, with massive conservative defections in connection with unanimous Democratic opposition. In the Senate, it passes 53-40. The Senate begins holding hearings of intelligence officials to gauge the status of Iran's nuclear agreement, which comes up for full review the next year. An attempted bombing of three major department stores in New York is averted by the NYPD.

December 2025 (continued): Two Russian jets are shot down by the Central Asian Republic and a land invasion of the region begins. Five car bombs go off in St. Petersburg, killing nearly 200 people. Navalny suggests that Russia may be ungovernable in an interview with the BBC and suggests that "perhaps we should let it split asunder." Western intelligence agencies gain troubling reports of jihadi groups using Chechnya as a new base for attacks meant to be orchestrated in Europe. As Canada's economy continues to struggle, Nathan Cullen struggles to keep his left flank at bay and there are rumors of a palace coup less than three years after the NDP seized power. Protests in Edinburgh to commemorate the Christmas Day Crisis turn violent when counter-protesters are violently assaulted by SNP supporters as the Scottish police looks on and does nothing. When three of those attacked die later, the Scottish crisis flares back into being and Javid angrily declares, "where there is lawlessness, we must impose law!"

And now, for Sports: Texas A&M running back DeAngelo Barrows wins the Heisman Trophy after helping his team to a 12-0 regular season record before losing to Florida in the SEC Championship game. The Portland Timbers win the MLS Cup in penalty kicks over Atlanta United, capping off a terrific year for sports teams from the Pacific Northwest (Canucks winning Stanley Cup, Blazers as runner-ups in the NBA Finals, Marines winning World Series). Borussia Dortmund defeats Anderlecht 7-1 in the Club World Cup.

[KingSweden]

2025-26 College Football Playoffs

Non Playoff Bowls

2025 Orange Bowl: Florida State defeats Western Michigan
2026 Cotton Bowl: Arizona State defeats Alabama
2026 Sugar Bowl: Texas A&M defeats Baylor
2026 Rose Bowl: Washington defeats Michigan

Playoff Bowls

2025 Fiesta Bowl: (2) Oklahoma defeats (3) Ohio State
2025 Peach Bowl: (1) Florida defeats (4) Virginia Tech
Championship (New Orleans): Florida defeats Oklahoma

[KingSweden]

January 2026: Happy new year! Blizzards hammer the east coast. President Sandoval, at the one year mark, has now passed major educational reform, privatized significant federal lands and expanded natural gas and oil drilling, and nominated two new Supreme Court justices - what would normally count as a very successful year for any President. However, the heavily austere budget passed over his concerns by Congress has lowered his approval ratings to under 50% and greatly soured the willingness of Democrats to work with him. In foreign affairs, Sandoval has fulfilled his promise of a realist approach, with Bob Corker earning plaudits for his tenure at State, but frustrating many conservatives as the world seems to be burning while Sandoval makes few moves to step into any of the very fluid situations around the world. In an exciting moment, though, Cuban President Rodrigo Baas becomes the first Cuban executive to visit the White House since pre-Revolution.

January 2026 (continued): Corker meets with President Hu and President Park to discuss continued efforts to rebuild the old North Korea and how to proceed with the rapidly destabilizing Russia. The concerns about the land war in the CAR and worries about a potential invasion of Kazakhstan dominate the discourse. Five car bombs are detonated in central London by the Scottish nationalist Free Caledonian Army (FCA), an ultra-separatist terror group modeled on the IRA. 118 people are killed and Javid, in an angry address, accuses the SNP and Scottish police of turning a blind eye to FCA activities. A mere year after hopes emerged that the process would be peacefully resolved, the Scottish independence crisis is worse than ever. SAS operatives stage raids in Scotland, the first time done so in history, to capture FCA operatives. Six FCA members are killed, three of them unarmed.

And now for Sports: Borussia's Algerian striker Farouk Haddadi wins the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Arab player to win the award. The New York Giants, after a second-straight 15-1 regular season, defeat the Minnesota Vikings to advance to their second straight Super Bowl. Later the same day, the New York Jets, led by Shea Patterson, win their third straight road game to upset the Indianapolis Colts on the road to make Super Bowl LX an all-New York affair.

[KingSweden]

Happy thanksgiving, everyone!

A question - do you guys want more long-form article type updates? I had a few in mind covering the buildup to the midterms, but they take a lot of time to write.

Also, with the midterms coming up, do you all prefer my format I've used with state-by-state updates or do you want an experiment with a "news night" style coverage?

[/]

Great job!

I think it would be cool if you wanted to try a news-style coverage/analysis of the midterms, but it's up to you, of course. Either way would still be awesome.

[KingSweden]

Great job!

I think it would be cool if you wanted to try a news-style coverage/analysis of the midterms, but it's up to you, of course. Either way would still be awesome.

It would definitely be a lot of work, but I'd be willing to do it and have been thinking about it a bit recently. However, if darthebear is the only reader who expresses an interest, I think I'll stick to my usual format.

Anyone else have thoughts on the matter?

[KingSweden]

February 2026: Sandoval gets another victory as his BLM auction plan is passed fairly easily. In his State of the Union speech, he emphasizes his victories in the prior year, and congratulates Paul Clement and Erin Murphy on their appointments to the Court. He concedes, "Too few people are working, and those who are working are not necessarily seeing the wage growth we would hope for. For many Americans, times are very difficult. I know this. I know that student debt is crippling not one but two generations. I know that job insecurity is causing stress and hardship for many Americans. But I also know that you will persevere. Help is coming - more stimulating tax cuts, more bureaucratic red tape removed, more assistance for the neediest families. I hear you, my administration hears you, this Congress hears you, and you are not alone." Sandoval then rolls out his tax plan - a deep cut in the corporate tax rate while switching dividends to be taxed as ordinary income, requiring a holding of investments for two years rather than one to count as long-term capital gains rather than income, and a corresponding reduction of the income tax rate into four brackets of 20%, 25%, 30% and 35%. He then promises to "close every loophole, every tax dodge" on the books and considerably flatten the tax code, while adding more generous tax credits for low-income families. Conservative outside groups growl that this is insufficiently bold, and liberal groups attack its regressiveness.

February 2026 (continued): Terror in Trento! At the 2026 Winter Olympics, three car bombs are set off at the Olympic Park, the Olympic Village and the Olympic Stadium, killing 271 people (including 14 athletes) in Italy's worst-ever terror attack and the country's biggest violent loss of life since World War Two. Matteo Renzi, who is resigning after the Olympics (after initially planning to resign in the fall of '25), makes a moving speech where he implores the Games go on after discussions begin about cancelling them out of fear of more attacks. President Sandoval promises to go after the perpetrators, who turn out to be Chechen jihadists. Russian jets pound Chechen and Dagestani rebel positions mercilessly. Britain arrests fourteen FCA leaders and Nicola Sturgeon makes an unequivocal condemnation of political violence, helping ease some tensions.

And now, for Sports: After the world rallies after the Olympic Attacks, the Olympics become a symbol of hope and unity. Sweden wins gold in ice hockey and Austrian skier Annika Kohler wins four gold medals. In Super Bowl LX in Los Angeles - an all-New York affair - the New York Giants, behind regular-season MVP Josh Rosen, defeat the New York Jets 55-13 in a rout. Rosen throws for 411 yards, six touchdowns (three of which are caught by Odell Beckham) and no interceptions while the Jets' Shea Patterson is intercepted four times, one of which is returned for a touchdown on the second play of the game. It is the Giants' fifth Super Bowl championship.

[hurricanehink]

I always liked the existing format for elections, for what it's worth. News style updates throughout the night tend to create drama in the early hours, just like real elections, but I feel like your story doesn't need that added element of drama, not when you've already successfully gone 10 years into the future.

I would love seeing some 10 year assessments on some broader changes, such as PR statehood, cannabis reform, how far iPhones have gone, where technology is going. It'll be a very different world when even 3rd world countries have internet, when US has computers approaching human intelligence, whatnot. However, some of the technology stuff might have the feel of science fiction. PM me if you want to talk future technology, that's a niche TL interest of mine. Regardless, keep up the good work with this thorough and enjoyable timeline!

[KingSweden]

The Midterms on the Ground

Politico

This Week - Tennessee

The very notion that Democrats are on the offense in Tennessee should, on its face, be ludicrous. The state has not supported a Democratic Presidential candidate since 1996, thirty years ago. It has been even longer - Al Gore's reelection in '92 - since it supported a Senate candidate. And it was twenty years past that Phil Bredesen was reelected as Governor, which was the last time any Democrat won statewide in the Volunteer State.

Part of the reason for this has been the outstanding candidates backed by the Tennessee GOP, one of the best-organized in the country. Titans like Howard Baker, Bill Frist, Bob Corker, Bill Haslam and Lamar Alexander have strode across this state, swatting away Democratic candidates like flies. The quality shows - Corker, Haslam and Alexander have all served in both the Governor's mansion and in the Senate. Frist was the Senate Majority leader in the early 2000s, much like state hero Baker. Corker is now the Secretary of State in President Sandoval's administration.

That was then.

Now, "singing Congressman" Stephen Fincher is the state's junior Senator, dogged everywhere he goes by ethics clouds, a reputation as a rabble-rouser in a state that values genteel conservatism and a grim approval rating by Tennessee GOP standards. In the Governor's mansion is Ron Ramsey, an arch-conservative who replaced Corker as Governor. Ramsey, 70, is running for a full term in his own right next fall, and has already passed a variety of conservative priorities that would have made Haslam and Corker balk.

Democrats smell blood, and it goes to show just how rapidly the GOP's numbers have deteriorated nationwide since last spring that Tennessee is the centerpiece of the DNC's offensive plan. Per young, ambitious Tennessee Democratic Chairman Mark Lovegood, the plan has three tiers - massive voter registration in black, Hispanic and collegiate communities; peel off 20-25% of suburban voters who have supported moderate Republicans in the past; and recruit sterling candidates up and down the ballot. Each candidate has to meet with Lovegood before he agrees to back them, and his standards are simple - no skeletons in the closet, they must be more conservative than liberal on half of a range of topics he keeps on a scoresheet, and they must be able to self-finance half of their campaign.

The first goal for Lovegood is to flip four to five Senate seats and eight to ten House seats. Neither will come close to flipping either House of the legislature, and it won't matter much in the great scheme in a state where gubernatorial vetoes can be overriden with a simple majority. But for Lovegood, and for many at the DNC and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), the idea is more to rebuild the bench and find Democrats who could one day go out into hostile congressional districts and give Republicans a race.

The big-ticket races, of course, will earn Lovegood's attention, even though in an interview with Politico he expressed a stronger interest in the nitty-gritty of party building and legislative minutiae. "Getting Governor or Senator - or both - would obviously be a big way to show that 'we're back!' to the people of Tennessee," Lovegood says in his Memphis drawl. Reared in rural Shelby County by conservative parents, he graduated from MTSU in 2018 and at 29 he is the youngest state chairman in modern history, serving as a legislative aide for many years to Congressman Jeff Yarbro, who is giving up his safe Nashville seat to take on Senator Fincher. Lovegood points to Yarbro's retirement in a midterm cycle as signs that this might be possible. "I'm biased, of course, but Jeff is the best candidate we've had in Tennessee since before I was born," he says with a smile.

The bigger coup is convincing legendary country singer Tim McGraw, a longtime Democratic supporter close to the Clintons and who has harbored political interests for over twenty years, to enter the race against the polarizing Ramsey. Lovegood looks almost giddy when McGraw comes up. "Everyone in Tennessee loves country music. We've got Nashville here, the Grand Ole Opry, everything. McGraw is just a rung below guys like George Straight and Garth Brooks when it comes to Nashville royalty. He's immensely popular here in his adoptive home state. And when you see him out on the stump, it's like he's going on tour. It's like one of his concerts, huge cheering crowds, only he's talking, not singing."

McGraw has considerably more conservative inclinations than Yarbro, though both are part of the near-extinct breed of "Blue Dog Democrats." Lovegood's hope is that the popular McGraw knocks out Ramsey and narrowly carries Yarbro over the line. Still, regardless, one of the two would still be a massive blow to the GOP in one of their safest states.

"We feel good here. We're also getting young, ambitious guys in Memphis and Nashville to run for Democratic-held open seats and we're going to have a candidate in all nine Congressional districts this fall."

With growth - particularly of minorities - in Nashville and a decline in Tennessee's rural population over the years, Democrats have right to feel confident for the first time in decades. It is an uphill battle here, but Republicans are showing signs of worry. One anonymous operative confided, "Ramsey does not think it's a real threat. Republicans haven't lost here for such a long time, they don't think it's possible. But young people are much less conservative than their parents, even if they are reflexively Republican. Timmy [McGraw] is the kind of guy who can pull a lot of those votes."

[KingSweden]

I always liked the existing format for elections, for what it's worth. News style updates throughout the night tend to create drama in the early hours, just like real elections, but I feel like your story doesn't need that added element of drama, not when you've already successfully gone 10 years into the future.

I would love seeing some 10 year assessments on some broader changes, such as PR statehood, cannabis reform, how far iPhones have gone, where technology is going. It'll be a very different world when even 3rd world countries have internet, when US has computers approaching human intelligence, whatnot. However, some of the technology stuff might have the feel of science fiction. PM me if you want to talk future technology, that's a niche TL interest of mine. Regardless, keep up the good work with this thorough and enjoyable timeline!

It's funny you bring up Puerto Rico, I was going to get into that more in the spring of '26. Needless to say, it's a future "legacy issue" for Brian Sandoval. I'd love some ideas on some future tech stuff, too.

[KingSweden]

March 2026: Sandoval sends his tax overhaul to Congress as outside groups continue to hammer it from both directions, in a repeat of almost everything he has tried to do in his brief Presidency. Sandoval's approval rating slips to 45% and Congress' lies at 7%. In a frustrated "60 Minutes" interview, Sandoval laments, "It seems everything I do, it is either way too conservative for a loud minority or not conservative enough for another loud minority, but the broad subsection of Americans who think this seems like reasonable policy stay quiet. We're being pulled asunder by the extremes." Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich dies in Georgia. After a terrorist attack in Washington, D.C. is averted, Sandoval's approvals recover somewhat.

March 2026 (continued): The death toll in Russia continues to rise, particularly in small towns and rural areas. Siberian separatism makes a long-belated return, as oil interests in the large region, where things are very stable, start to discuss ending payments of oil revenues to the unstable capital region. Sajid Javid and the Tories, still trailing Labour, decide to ramp up police activities in Scotland and Ulster as a show of force. It backfires, with 17 policemen assassinated in Edinburgh over the course of two weeks. The big schism in British politics occurs no more than a week later, though, as hard-left Labourites, frustrated with the pragmatic tone of Jim McMahon and his overtures to the Liberal Democrats, announce a breakaway party, the Socialist Labour Party. High-fives all around at Downing Street. Matteo Renzi steps down at twelve consecutive years in power. He is replaced by Federica Mogherini, a one-time European Foreign Minister and longtime Cabinet chief in his government.

And now, for Sports: In March Madness, the reign of the bluebloods continues as Kansas wins its second title in three years by defeating Illinois in double-overtime, one of the great college basketball games of all time.

[KingSweden]

The Midterms on the Ground

This Week - Nevada

The Silver State is the center of President Brian Sandoval's empire, as one could say. It is where he grew up, got his start as a lawyer and then state legislature, and eventually went on to be a federal judge, Governor and then Senator. It's mix of old-West conservatism and "New Republican" social moderates are what powered his numerous statewide wins, and his unique rapport with the state's massive Hispanic population helped him carry the state in his Presidential race. He is Nevada's favorite son. Talk to any politically-minded Nevadan, even many Democrats here, and they beam with pride.

"We've never had a President from here before. I mean, here! The desert! It's Vegas, which everybody just thinks of as the city of sin, and we elect a Republican from this place. It's unreal," gushes US Rep. Ruben Kihuen, who qualifies that he disagrees with the President on just about everything.

Look closer, though, and one starts to see the signs of a backlash forming. Though both of Sandoval's successors in Carson City, Mark Hutchison and Joe Heck, are regarded as moderates within the GOP, neither of them have had the pragmatic instincts and impeccable touch of Sandoval. Early last year, Heck pushed through a voter ID law, a variety of restrictions on early and absentee voting and endorsed a massive tax overhaul. National and local Democrats alike were in an uproar, while many moderates in the Clark County suburbs have expressed concerns about the progress Nevada schools have made since Brian Sandoval's brave and landmark education reform a decade ago.

Sitting in his brand-new downtown Reno office, longtime Nevada political analyst Jon Ralston noted that Democrats have the inside track to have a banner year in Sandoval's home state. Squarely in their targets are freshman Rep. Amanda Kimball, who turns 30 next month and only won election in 2024 by all of 300 votes. The bubbly former television personality has been paraded around the country by the RNCC as a sign of a new generation of Republican women, but Ralston doubts she can defeat whoever emerges out of the five-way primary forming to defeat her. In the 3rd district, meanwhile Michael Roberson looks set to face Aaron Ford, the State Senate Minority Leader, who is known to harbor gubernatorial ambitions but is aiming for Congress first.

At the top of the ballot, meanwhile, sits Governor Heck - it is his scalp that Democrats are most keen to take, hoping to end 28 straight years of Republican control of the Governor's Mansion. Heck is the clearest byproduct of the NV GOP that Brian Sandoval built, both in Congress and as Governor. If Attorney General Ross Miller takes him down, it will be the biggest blow to the President yet. Ralston, smiling, says, "If you see Brian (the men are on first-name terms after all these years) coming back to Vegas to campaign with Kimball, Heck and Roberson, then you know the Republicans are sweating it."

As the heat cranks up on the campaign trail, that may just be the case.

[KingSweden]

April 2026: Sandoval stumps for his tax plan and starts hosting fundraisers throughout the country for GOP candidates. Mid-month, he travels to Puerto Rico and surprises the political world by endorsing a referendum for the fall ballot that would ask Puerto Ricans whether they should hold a referendum determining statehood, determining independence or none at all in 2028 - in his address from San Juan, Sandoval states, "It is my hope and my dream that we will address the status of Puerto Rico permanently and definitively this fall. It is my hope that the people of this great island vote for statehood in two years, and it would be the greatest honor of my life to be the first President to visit the 51st state when that day comes." The excitement of this announcement cools as twin domestic issues arise for Sandoval at the end of the month - his tax plan doesn't seem to have the votes as different Republican factions champion competing proposals, and then he holds a surprise press conference from the White House where he declares, "Yesterday afternoon, it came to my attention courtesy of Attorney General Comey that four US Attorneys in the Department of Justice conspired together to destroy evidence, stall investigations and impede the indictments of senior Republican officials in three states. It was also brought to my attention that two of these same US Attorneys directed their offices to deliberately target Democratic officeholders. Twenty years ago, allegations such as these nearly sank President Bush's second administration, and I will not allow the taint of scandal and political gamesmanship into mine. I have ordered Mr. Comey to fire all involved parties immediately and asked the FBI to conduct a thorough investigation of all involved. As a former prosecutor and judge, I am appalled by these accusations and promise that any guilty parties will receive the swift justice they failed to mete out properly themselves." The scandal throws Washington, D.C. into crisis mode. Sandoval is roundly praised for breaking the story himself without any leaks and being forthright, but rumors start to spread about potential donors, Congressmen and RNC officials being involved.

April 2026 (continued): Former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin dies in Ottawa. With Russia's problems having completely sapped support from much of its border regions, Ukraine invades Crimea and reclaims its "stolen" territories twelve years after their annexation to Russia. Javid struggles to reassure investors and businesses that he has the Scottish situation under control after the FCA stages a massive car bombing campaign in the City of London, killing 414 people with a bomb detonated each day for an entire week. Several Scottish police officials are arrested. In Northern Ireland, meanwhile, loyalists riot violently when Catholics declare that they now have a demographic majority in the six counties. EU ministers continue to meet with their lukewarm British counterparts about finding a solution to the Scottish mess.

[KingSweden]

May 2026: With six months to go before the midterms and the unemployment rate breaching 9% for the first time in a decade and a half, and Q1 growth numbers show GDP shrinking by 0.7%, Republicans hit the panic button. "Attorneygate" now hits the RNC and NRCC, with accusations that Pete Olson had been made aware of plans to drop charges against two NRCC vice chairs until after the midterms and that he was briefed in private, along with RNC Vice Chairman Robin Armstrong, on investigations into seven different Democratic members of the House. Olson denies the accusations, but in an effort to help the House GOP save face, announces that he is resigning as NRCC chair "so that I can devote my time and attention to combating these baseless allegations and allow the NRCC to focus on its most important task - to preserve the historic Republican majority in the House." RNC Chair Mike McDonald announces that he has received the resignation of Armstrong and that he will swiftly fire anybody who it is found to have colluded with the "Rogue Four." Kentucky's Adam Koenig replaces Olson as NRCC chair.

The scandal brings into question the NRCC's ability to maintain the House majority, especially once it starts to appear that two (for now) anonymous Congressmen hatched the plan along with the Rogue Four. Sandoval asks former AG Loretta Lynch and former Deputy AG Paul McNulty to investigate the charges as a special prosecution team, with full subpoena powers granted by Congress shortly thereafter. Speaker McCarthy acknowledges that tax reform is likely dead for the foreseeable future, and rumors swirl that he might not run for an additional term as Speaker as a result.

May 2026 (continued): Sajid Javid announces high-level negotiations with SNP leaders to find an end to the crisis, but says that "independence is off the table." Labour and the Lib Dems announce an electoral coalition called "Alliance for Britain", where they agree not to run against one another in incumbent-held seats and pledge joint candidates in other constituencies. A year out from the general election, they are effectively starting a new political party. Russian military leaders have secured a fairly sizable portion of European Russia, but many ethnic republics, including those in the Caucasus and Central Asia, remain beyond their reach. Russian leaders start discussing how to transition out of civil war at a peace conference in Zurich, attended by exiled oppositionists Navalny and Medvedev, NATO and EU leaders, and representatives from China and Japan. Hope abounds that Europe's two great crises of the 2020s, other than the depression-status economy in much of the continent, can be solved.

And now, for Sports: After dispatching Bayern Munich in the semifinal, Liverpool advances to the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan, which is coming off of a narrow win over Borussia Dortmund in the corresponding semi. After a tight 2-2 game featuring one goal each by the two best players in the world, LFC's José Morales and Inter's Daniele Paolini, Liverpool wins on penalty kicks to earn its eighth European Cup, passing Inter's rival AC Milan to be second to only Real Madrid on the all-time Cup winners list. In the Europa League, Manchester United defeats West Ham in yet another all-English final to earn its first silverware in four years.

In league play, Liverpool completes its first ever treble by clearing Manchester United in the Premier League by two points and defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup. Tottenham Hotspur takes the League Cup and places third in the Premier League, while West Ham places fourth. In Germany, Bayern Munich completes a domestic double by winning both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal. PSG wins yet another Ligue One championship, put fails to win a sixth straight double when they are upset in the Coupe de France by Bordeaux. Benfica wins a Portuguese double, denying Sporting silverware after five straight doubles. Real Madrid wins La Liga a second straight year, while Atletico wins the Copa del Rey for a second straight year. Inter Milan wins a second straight Coppa Italia, but fails five points shy of Roma and three shy of Lazio in Serie A once again.

Up Next: Previewing the 2026 World Cup...

[Türkisblau]

Still as great as ever. Poor Sandoval! Nothing seems to be going his way.

[KingSweden]

Still as great as ever. Poor Sandoval! Nothing seems to be going his way.

I do feel bad for President Sandoval (at times). I actually do quite admire him - he's probably my favorite Republican politician.

[KingSweden]

16. Croatia - This side has dropped off since its surprising top-four run four years ago, tied directly to the drop-off of stars Alen Halilovic and Mateo Kovacic. Both stars remain on the squad, but the Croats are not expected to advance nearly as far this time.

15. Algeria - The best side in Africa features reigning Ballon d'Or winner Farouk Haddadi and his less-heralded but dangerous compatriot, Bassam Hosseini. In a favorable group, Algeria should have no trouble making some noise and showing why Haddadi is Europe's most feared playmaker.

14. England - The retirement of much of the '22 England squad's core puts England further back then they otherwise would be. Eddie Russell and Tom Campbell will keep this squad in contention, and the emergence of Dominick Solanke as a complement to aging veteran Raheem Sterling.

13. Japan - Man U star Kenji Masuhito is the creating midfielder for this surprising squad, and the Herons could make some noise if they can get a good result against Uruguay. Nobody expects much from the long-stagnant Japan, but they have a terrific young core that can play with any defense in the game.

12. Poland - After much hand-wringing over Poland's decline post-Lewandowski, the Poles surprised the world by making the World Cup behind the starring play of the Pulaski twins, Grigor and Lech. Ebi Smolarek have turned this underachieving group into a hungry, aggressive bunch, who play a vicious (if sometime penalty-heavy) style of defense and with a nose for the goal, particularly on set-pieces. An opening match against Germany in Philadelphia, and a game in front of Polack-heavy Chicago, will make this an affair to remember for Poland.

11. Serbia - No team dazzled the world quite like Serbia at Euro 2024, with their unbelievable scoring duo of Jankovic and Zinkovic, and the world-class keeper in net in Rajkovic. Two years older, the core of that incredible run is intact, though an uneven qualifying campaign indicates that Serbia may have been figured out by opposing sides. Still, they have a tremendous opportunity to advance further than any Serbian side since 1990.

10. Mexico - Captain Tecatito beams as he talks about his Mexico side and their chances in USA next month. With the "Tres Pedros" of Pedro Aguirre, Pedro Gonzalez and Pedro Colon, this is the best team in national history and looks poised to make a deep run, especially with an extremely favorable group. Still, Mexico's uneven history at the World Cup and poor showing at last summer's Confederations Cup should give supporters pause.

9. Belgium - Belgians are rallying around their team six years removed from the best run in national history. Mark Laeder has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe for Manchester City in recent years and the Red Devils are built around a fierce, unrelenting attack. In a group with Brazil, they have little margin for error to be able to advance, but this team still has much of its talent with veterans like Origi and Benteke from their golden years.

8. Australia - Since their quarterfinal run four years ago, the Socceroos have been on a tear. Cameron Joice has emerged into one of the Premier League's top threats and teammates Jake Robinson and Collin McBride complement him nicely. With a weak group and a clear path to the quarters yet again, with a raucous and rabid supporter base expected to show up in the USA, Australia is poised to cement itself as an Asian soccer power.

7. USA - This is the moment USA has built towards for decades. The chance to field a team, on home soil, capable of keeping pace with the world's best. With young budding stars like Zeke Ayo and Calvin Perry mixed in with the veteran core of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Matt Miazga, Gedion Zelalem, Emerson Hyndman and captain Rubio Rubin, with Zack Steffen in net, this is the best American team ever fielded on paper. The only thing holding the squad back, potentially, are injury concerns for star forwards Jordan Morris and Haji Wright. The opportunity is there, though, for Jurgen Klopp to become the first manager to lead a country other than his native one to a World Cup trophy. This is what he left Liverpool for - the chance to make history in the United States just as its soccer culture comes into maturity.

6. Spain - The perpetually terrific Furia Roja come into this tournament with a chip on their shoulders after getting bounced in the quarterfinal at Euro 2024 and having struggled in the World Cup since their historic run from 2008-12. Stars like Oliver, Toto, Nico Ramirez, Borja Mayoral and Cavallo form a team that on paper should be one of the best in the tournament. It bears remembering, though, that Spain has only advanced past the quarterfinal once, in their victorious 2010 campaign. Since then, it has been an uneven run. The chance to change this is within their grasp in the USA this summer.

5. Brazil - The Selecao are a shadow of their former selves, but still retain some key talent. Players like Malcolm, Lincoln and Tabi are part of a core that mixes veteran and young players fairly equally, and captain Felipe Anderson has been on this team for a decade as one of its cogs. However, this will be the first World Cup Brazil contests without living legend Neymar since 2010, and lacking a playmaker and scoring threat of his caliber will hurt Brazil in later rounds. Still, it was a Brazil side that came out of nowhere after a 24 year title drought in 1994 on US soil to earn a massive win. It would be a surprise if they didn't make a deep run again.

4. Italy - Italy flamed out of the last two World Cups in the Round of 16 with head-scratching losses to USA and Croatia. It then laid a massive egg in the group stage of Euro '24 and went bold by hiring Inter Milan's hot coach Andrea Pirlo, who won the 2006 Cup as the Azzurri's leader. Now, Pirlo has built a team that after initially struggling in qualification won its playoff against Norway and has not lost since last spring. Led by Daniele Paolini, one of the top attackers in the world, and defenders like Alessandro Romagnoli and Matteo Santi, and goaltender Simeone Scuffet, the Azzurri are locked in the Group of Death with one of the other top teams in the world. The fireworks will be incredible.

3. Uruguay - Many thought that Uruguay, the defending South American champion and runner up at the Confederations Cup, would see a decline after greats like Poyet, Fagundez and Rolan aged in midfield and warriors like Gimenez started to lose a step in the defense. But their core of veteran goalkeeper Guillermo de Amores, young midfield phenom Géronimo and megastar José Morales will keep them in every game as veterans like Poyet and Fagundez step back from being the focal point of the attack. This team has been handed an easy group and Uruguay supporters are already talking about a potential third straight top-four finish.

2. Argentina - This is the last hurrah for a generation of terrific Albiceleste stars like Angel Correa, Giovanni Simeone, and Sasha Velasco. Over the last two years, under manager Hernan Crespo, Argentina has not lost once. Not on the road, not at home. Not one loss. Argentina has enjoyed FIFA World rankings in the top two, including a seven-month spell as the top team in the world, as a result. Supporters are dreaming of a third Cup - or at least a deep finish - as the country heads toward co-hosting duties in 2030.

1. Germany - Who else? Germany's unbelievable performances in Euro 2024 and the 2025 Confederations Cup, and its tremendous form in the intervening years under coach Thomas Schneider, put the five-team World Cup champions in a tremendous position to add what would be a record sixth star. Dortmund star Billy Dreyfuss has emerged as a world-class striker and the defensive team of David Boko and Gunther Koch has helped goaltender Marius Funk find his sea legs after all-team great Kevin Trapp retired. This is the team to beat as it aims to build on its tremendous success over the last two years.

[KingSweden]

Power Ranking the World Cup Teams

As a preview to the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the United States, we are power ranking all 32 national sides that will take the field in June.

32. Tunisia - These African minnows get to play the United States in the opening match of the tournament after barely qualifying over Cameroon in the CAF qualifiers. This is not a matchup that favors the slapstick backline of Tunisia. Taking a point from any of their three games would be a coup for this side.

31. Czech Republic - Arguably the weakest European side in the tournament, Czech Republic will struggle in a veritable group of death featuring powers Italy and Argentina and the oft-difficult Jamaica. Young Bayern star Abdelhamid Houdanie is the best player on this team and was crucial in the country's upset win over Ukraine in the playoff.

30. Canada - This would be the worst team in the tournament were it not for the fact that Tunisia and Czech Republic have suffered key injuries in the run-up to the World Cup. Gritty veteran Cyle Larin is the main talent on this side, but has suffered a severe decline in form in the last six months since guiding Canada through the Hex. Luckily for Canadian supporters, most of their games are just over the border in places like Ann Arbor, Minneapolis and Philadelphia. How convenient.

29. Ghana - The African power has declined in recent years, and its upset over Nigeria is what powered it into this tournament rather than the skilled Super Eagles. In a tough group, Ghana is unlikely to advance out of group play, but this side has a history of being a wild card.

28. China - PRC is not a traditional footballing power but has improved in recent years enough, helped by young twin stars Wei Ban and Wei Jong. The Wei twins lead a revamped China attack under former Italy boss Antonio Conte, but in a group with Poland and Germany are unlikely to see much success. Still, an upset in the cards could make this a banner year for China

27. Egypt - Joining China in a grim Group C featuring two major UEFA powers is Egypt, making its first WC appearance since 1990. The side has never once won a game in the World Cup - with injuries piling up in spring friendlies and club play and featuring a woefully green team without much big game experience, that is unlikely to change. Still, the only thing keeping Egypt up here has been its run of terrific form both before and after qualification. Egypt has not lost a game since early 2025.

26. Romania - One of the biggest upsets in sporting history occurred last fall when Romania defeated defending World Cup champion France both at home and away, denying Les Bleus a spot in the USA. Romania shouldn't do much more than that, but the buzz around the side has been rocking the country for six months. It is all upside for this aging but deceptively talented side.

25. Senegal - Dortmund star Mamadou Thiam is some form of national sporting hero in Senegal, but this side will surely struggle in a group featuring teams like Brazil and Belgium. For Senegal, taking a few points in their second straight WC tournament would be a tremendous success and cement Thiam's status in his home country.

24. Jamaica - Netminder Willy Good has been the best goalkeeper in the MLS for three straight seasons and has emerged as one of the brightest young stars in world football. The team around him isn't too bad either, as Jamaica heads just across the Caribbean to its first-ever World Cup. Jamaica has developed a quick, counter-attacking philosophy under American manager Jason Kreis and has an underrated defense. They won't advance to the quarterfinals, but look for Jamaica to give Italy and Argentina fits.

23. Korea - This is Korea Republic's first World Cup as a united country, with the Red Devils adding several talents from the former North to their already well-stocked side. Coming off of their Asian Cup win in 2023, they didn't do too well at Confederations '25 but have a chance to eke out of a fairly weak Group A if Serbia isn't up to snuff behind the USA.

22. Colombia - The heyday of Colombian football is long gone, with stars like James, Jeison and Quintero having drifted off into old age. Instead comes a side bereft of superstars but with a tremendous team ethic. This mostly anonymous side was the last CONMEBOL squad in and will likely fail once again to advance out of the group stage, but they have become a mainstay at the top of South American football.

21. Portugal - Portugal backed into the tournament with a playoff win over Austria, and Jose Mourinho's side will probably struggle with advancing thanks to a tough group featuring Australia and Netherlands. Aging veterans like Gelson Martins will feature heavily in a team polarized by age - it is either very old, particularly up front, or very young, like in its backline. The experience younger players earn in the USA will be tremendous.

20. Chile - This side is, like the Colombians, largely anonymous and featuring veteran, experienced players who play utility roles across Europe rather than a collection of stars. They will probably do well, especially with young forward Antonio Guayardo coming into his own, especially with a forgiving group featuring Sweden, Mexico and Romania.

19. Netherlands - Veteran Man U star Memphis is the focus of the Oranje attack - and, really, their only attacking option. Still, this side fought their way to USA through a playoff with Greece and earned their spot here. Now, to face Portugal and Australia. With only 32-year old Memphis to command the attention of defenses, their odds of getting any further than the Round of 16 aren't great.

18. Sweden - Veterans like Valmir Berisha and Gustav Engvall came together for one final push to peat out France in their qualifying group and put them in position to return to the place where Sweden made its magical third-place run 32 years ago. Included in their squad are emerging young stars Ahmed Chalid, Birgir Linden and the Johansson twins, Mats and Erik. Sweden is a potential surprise, but with a group featuring Mexico and Chile, they may not find much room for error.

17. Costa Rica - Costa Rica has built a tremendous reputation as a stingy, difficult out anytime they play an opponent. Drawn into a difficult group, they have little chance of advancement, but Belgium and Brazil will not sleep on the Central American power.

[KingSweden]

June 2026: The names of the two Congressmen who conspired with US Attorneys Sean McKnight and Brian Johnson - it is Rep. Jim Murphy of Texas and Rep. Rick Pallotta of Florida, both locked in tight races in their districts. Both vehemently deny the allegations, but if the FBI confirms them, they will in all likelihood have to resign. Both are already trailing polls in their districts. Sandoval's approval rating ticks up slightly to 49% as the admiration for his move to quickly expose the scandal and rapidly distance himself from it and condemn any involved is applauded. The jobs report show another 16,000 losses and unemployment creeps up to nearly 9.5%. Congress prepares to certify the second half of the two-year budget passed so acrimoniously last year, making slight adjustments in certain areas. The hot summer starts cranking again, with water shortages prevalent once more throughout the Southwest and much of the Deep South. Stocks in desalination plants start to spike as they have done every year for eight years. The Puerto Rico referendum earns enough signatures and the support of enough of the island's establishment to go to ballot.

June 2026 (continued): Russian leaders, tired by two years of violent fighting and focused on securing nukes and military hardware, sign a stunning agreement with the Central Asian Republic to grant it sovereignty. Similar agreements with Chechnya and Dagestan are expected within a few months as the country continues to muddle through a sporadic, oft-broken ceasefire. No such luck in Britain, where Sturgeon and Salmond are arrested after Javid's Home Secretary claims they allowed the Scottish police to ignore FCA activities during a review. Riots begin in Edinburgh, and several British soldiers are attacked and beaten to death, including one who is a native Scot. Colombia elects as its President Julia Evelyn Restrepo Gallo (f), a 42-year old human rights activist and the first true candidate of the left to win victory in the traditionally conservative country. Murmurs of a return of the pink tide in South America start to echo across the continent.

And now, for Sports: The Minnesota Timberwolves, sporting an NBA-best 66-16 record, win their third championship as they defeat the Brooklyn Nets in five games. Andrew Wiggins is Finals and regular season MVP. In the NHL, the Buffalo Sabres win their second title, this time by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Wonderful timeline as usual KingSweden.

[KingSweden]

FIFA World Cup 2026

Group A

USA
Korea
Serbia
Tunisia

The first game, held in Philadelphia, pits the United States against Tunisia. The hosts dominate, with Rubio Rubin, Gedion Zelalem and Christian Pulisic all scoring in the first half to help pace the USA to a 3-0 win. In the opposite game, held in Seattle, Serbia defeats Korea, playing as a unified country for the first time, 1-0 thanks to a score by Jankovic.

The second set of games pits the USA against Serbia and Korea against Tunisia. Though Serbia goes up first at 11' thanks to a quarter-field strike by Andrija Zinkovic, the USA ties it up at 39' with a goal from young phenom Calvin Perry and adds a crucial penalty at 81' by veteran Jordan Morris to take a massive 2-1 win. Korea, meanwhile, defeats Tunisia 1-0 with a score by Lee Seung-woo, the team's longtime star.

The final game features USA taking on Korea having already effectively clinched the group. With a 2-0 win, with scores by Zeke Ayo and Pulisic giving USA all 9 points in group. Needing only a win to advance even without USA's result, Serbia play conservatively and only defeat Tunisia 1-0, after Jankovic scores early and then settling back for the rest of the game.

USA 9
Serbia 6
Korea 3
Tunisia 0

Goals:

Pulisic (USA) 2
Jankovic (Serbia) 2
Rubin (USA) 1
Morris (USA) 1
Zelalem (USA) 1
Ayo (USA) 1
Perry (USA) 1
Zinkovic (Serbia) 1
Lee (Korea) 1